Folding table



S'. P. HABAN FOLDING TABLE vApril 12, 1938;.l

Filed April 2o, 1936 lI/llllllll..

s. P. HABAN FOLDING TABLE April 12, 1938.

' Filed April 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED. STATES PATIEHii'i` FFiE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved folding table structure, and while the invention may be adapted to many different uses, it is particularly useful in and has been specifically designed for the care of infants, providing improved means for effecting the elevated support of an infants bath tub or bathing receptacle and associated means upon which an infant 'may be placed for dressing and other attention demanding services.

Those having to do with the care of infants are frequently obliged to employ makeshift articles of furniture in the bathing and dressing of infants and other necessary duties. Sometimes a bathing receptacle is placed on an ordinary table, or in other instances folding card tables are utilized, so that it will not be necessary for the attendant to stoop over or to assume a kneeling position in performing various duties affecting the Welfare of the infant.

It is therefore a cardinal object of the present invention to provide an improved foldable or co1- lapsible supporting table which may be quickly and easily erected to assume an active extended position, and wherein the table includes, when extended, a horizontally supported shelf adapted for the reception of an infants bathing receptacle,

means being associated with the shelf to maintain the same in a fixed horizontal plane and to limit the extensibility of the frame structure of the table, to the end of providing a secure,.stable and substantial construction on which the bathing receptacle may be readily placed and supportedy in an elevated plane and also one which, when not in use, may be compactly folded to occupy but a minimum of storage space.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the folding table with a t`op frame carrying a stretched fabric body, the said top frame when in use being disposed over the receptacle supporting shelf for support in a horizontal plane in connection with the folding frame structure of the table, so that an infant may be placed on the fabric body and comfortably and securely supported when receiving various attentions.

A further object resides in the provision v of means for effecting the support of the top frame in a substantially vertical position when the same is not in actual use or during the period when a bathing receptacle is supported on the shelf normally beneath the same.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a folding table having the general features and characteristics above set forth and one which will be light in Weight and simple and inexpensive in design.

For a further understanding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a folding table structure formed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated in its extended, set up or active position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the table structure, the inactive position of the top frame being disclosed by dotted lines;

Fig: 3 is an enlarged horizontal transverse sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 2, disclosing the folding leg members and the adjoining portions of the receptacle supporting shelf;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line IV--IV of Fig. 2 and showing one of the shelf-supporting studs;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line V-V of Fig. 3 and showing one of the links employed for guiding the swinging movements of the receptacle supporting shelf and for limiting the extensibility of the pivoted leg members of the table;

Fig. 6 is a similar View disclosing the shelf and the leg members in their folded or collapsed positions;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view disclosing the top supporting frame of the table in its inactive position;

Fig. 8 is a detail edge elevation of the slidable mounting for the top supporting frame;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation disclosing the top supporting frame in an inclined or half elevated position;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the member for retaining the top frame in the position disclosed in Fig. 9.

My improved foldable nursery table comprises end frames, each of which consists of a pair of bars l pivotally united as at 2 at their points of intersection. The lower ends of the bars of said end frames are united and strengthened by means of longitudinally extending connecting braces 3, while the upper ends of said bars are similarly united by a pair of longitudinally extending connecting rods li. By this construction intersecting substantially rectangular frames are produced of rigid construction which are pivotally united at their points of intersection.

Pivoted as at 5 to one set only of the bars I, below the upper ends of the latter, is a receptacle supporting shelf 6, which, when actively positioned as shown in Figs. l and 2, occupies a horizontal plane, but when inactively positioned as shown in Fig. 6, depends from the pivots 5 in a substantially vertical plane. To support the shelf in its active horizontal position, the leg members I, opposed to the leg members With which the shelf is pivotally connected, carry, as shown in Fig. 4, inwardly projecting metallic studs 'I. These studs are so arranged that they underlie the free edge portions of the shelf 6, to prevent the shelf from sii/inging downwardly when disposed in a horizontal plane. To lock the shelf Ii in its active position, and to prevent excessive spreading movement of the leg members of the end frames, the studs 'I pivotally carry metallic locking links 8, arranged at each of the longitudinal ends of the shelf. The outer ends of these links are, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, prois desired to collapse the table in order to lower the shelf 6 and to compactly fold the leg members of the end frames, it is merely necessary for the attendant to oscillate the links 8 slightly in an upward direction, so that the pins I will be aligned with the longer portions 9b of the slots 9, so that further separation of the bars I of the end frames will be permitted, allowing the free edge of the shelf 6 to clear the studs "I, and thereby enabling the end frames to be collapsed to occupy the relative position shown in Fig. 6, with the shelf depending from the pivots 5. The shelf S may be used advantageously in the support of an infants bath tub or receptacle and is of substantial and sturdy design, as are its supporting members, to readily sustain the weights adapted to be supported by it.

The table further includes a top frame or shelf, indicated at I I, of greater area `than the lower shelf 6, and which is adapted to comfortably and securely sustain an infant in a reclining position while receiving various cares. The shelf II comprises a rectangular frame I2 to which is secured a sheet of stretched fabric I3. Normally, the frame I2 of the top shelf rests on the rods or brace members 4 in a substantially horizontal plane. However, when the lower shelf is in use, the said top frame or upper shelf is dropped so that it will assume the vertical position disclosed by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the lower shelf and receptacles carried thereby Will be conveniently accessible. To guide the movements of the top` frame or shelf from inactive to active positions, or vice Versa, one of the rods or braces 4 is provided with a pair of metallic plates I4 carrying pivoted bails I5, and these bails are adapted to receive tapes I6 which are connected with the under side of the frame I2, the bails I and the tapes I6 serving to guide the top frame or shelf when it is being moved from one position to another. If desired, a handle I'I may be connected with one of the longitudinal edges of the top shelf or frame, as in Fig. 1, so that it may be conveniently grasped to facilitate its actuation.

As shown in Fig. 9, the top frame or shelf may be tilted to assume an angular position with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes and retained in such a position of adjustment by the use of one or more supporting rods I8. The latter has its opposite ends offset or laterally bent as at I9 to engage with openings provided in one of the bars I and the frame I2. In its angular position, the top frame or shelf may serve as a shade, protecting the eyes of an infant from intense light while an infant is placed in a basket or the like and positioned on the lower shelf 6.

While the folding table structure described is particularly adaptable for use in nursery service, it is also capable of many other widely different uses and I contemplate its use in such augmented capacities. The foldable table is essentially of simple construction and easy and convenient to actuate. Its construction particularly lends itself to the obtaining of lightness from the standpoint of weight, so that when collapsed, it may be readily carried without difficulty from place to place for convenience in handling and positioning the same and by persons of slight physical strength.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding table structure comprising a pair of leg frames pivotally united at their points of intersection, a supporting shelf pivotally connected to one of said leg frames for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, stop members carried by the other of said frames and engageable with the free edge of said shelf to retain the same in a substantially horizontal plane, a link pivotally carried by the leg frame provided with said stop members, and a pin projecting from the side of said shelf and engageable with a recess formed in the outer end of said link and limiting the separation of said leg frames.

2. A folding table structure comprising a pair of intersecting pivotally united leg frames, a shelf pivotally carried by one of said frames, inwardly extending stud means carried by the other of said frames for supporting the free edge of said shelf in a substantially horizontal plane, link means pivoted at one end to said stud means, said link means being provided with an inclined slot terminating at its inner end in an upwardly directed branch, and pin means carried by said shelf and positioned in said slot.

STEPHEN P. HABAN. 

